IPOA accuses police chief Boinnet of frustrating its work

IPOA Board Chairman Macharia Njeru said the IG’s actions have grave implications on the authority’s ability to hold the National Police Service to account as mandated by the Constitution/CFM NEWS

By MUTHONI WAWERU, NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 4 – The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has accused the Inspector General (IG) of Police Joseph Boinnet of frustrating its work by ordering officers not to cooperate with its investigators.

In a press briefing held at its headquarters, IPOA Board Chairman Macharia Njeru said the IG’s actions have grave implications on the authority’s ability to hold the National Police Service to account as mandated by the Constitution.

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“The resistance we are getting is that of non-cooperation among the members of the police service which is emanating from the directive issued by the office of the IG. This is in bad faith as we are under obligation to investigate them,” said Njeru.

According to Njeru, it is the IG’s orders that led to an incident in which Kayole Police Chief Ali Nuno declined to receive summons from an IPOA official who had gone to the station and instead ordered for his arrest.

“IPOA is independent and so are its investigations and it’s in bad faith for the Inspector General to expect IPOA to carry out its functions through his office,” said Njeru.

“Indeed even the Internal Affairs Unit of the National Police Service has been denied resources and space to operate independently. This is clearly resistance to infuse professionalism within the Police Service and to allow accountability mechanisms to function as envisaged under our laws,” he said.

Njeru affirmed that the board will not be intimidated and will remain committed to exercising its mandate.

The board now wants the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to intervene and institute criminal charges against anyone obstructing its officers from carrying out their lawful functions.

“The highest police leadership has refused to change. We will investigate any officer who inhibits the mandate of the IPOA. Any officer who obstructs or even attempts to assault our officers will face the full force of the law,” warned Njeru.

Boinnet has defended the Kayole Police Chief but has not commented on the new allegations of frustrating IPOA investigations by ordering officers not to cooperate unless instructed to do so by his office.

MUTHONI WAWERU :Muthoni Waweru is a News Anchor/ Reporter and has been practicing Journalism since 2008. Environment and Human interest stories are her passion through which she hopes to make a difference.